Coastal Storm to Batter Florida’s First Coast

Coastal Flood Advisories have been issued for all counties along Florida’s Northeast beaches through Saturday in response to a storm developing just off-shore this weekend. A persistent wind of 20 to 30 mph out of the northeast will lead to large long-period swells and a minor surge at times of high tide. Small Craft Advisories are also in effect for the adjacent waters for waves of 4 to 7 feet and wind gusts near gale-force at times. And finally, a Rip Current Alert is in effect for area beaches through early next week.

An area of low pressure is forecast to slowly strengthen along a stalled front off the Space Coast near Cape Canaveral on Friday. The pressure gradient between this deepening system and higher pressure building in from the north will create a steady flow of on-shore wind and waves for two or three days. Moisture wrapping counter-clockwise around the storm will also lead to numerous showers along the coast, pushing inland at times by Saturday. The storm is forecast to move very slowly through Saturday, then begin to pull away on Sunday and Monday. Conditions should slowly start to improve by early next week. Beach-goers and boaters are encouraged to stay out of and away from the water this weekend on Florida’s First Coast.